Spirit Day

I whipped up some collar covers for the dogs this morning in honor of Spirit Day. Putting my dogs in purple with me isn’t meant to diminish the seriousness of bullying. My heart breaks for those teens who felt bullied or harassed to the point of suicide. But as I often say, Margot and Guinness, and dogs in general, are my teachers. Dogs don’t care about your gender. They don’t care if you’re rich or poor. They don’t care what race or religion you are–or aren’t. They don’t care if you’re gay or straight.

We can teach dogs to be mean, just as we can teach people to hate. But dogs teach us unconditional love. Dogs don’t hate.

So the three of us wear purple today to remind anyone who may stumble across this photo that you’re not alone. There are people who will help you if you need help. Please stay around to find out how much more there is to life than the people who call you names, or hurt you physically, or make you feel like you don’t matter. You matter. The world needs your unique gifts. The world needs you.

Check out The Trevor Project or Hopeline if you feel alone, if you are afraid, if you need to talk to someone.

LJ Runway Monday: We’re in a New York State of Mind (PR 8:12)

Heidi: We’ve made it to the end of the challenges of this season’s Runway Monday. Though there are dust bunnies racing with abandon across the hardwood floors of Becks’ house, and The Compound grass has all died again, at least she’s managed to produce a record twenty challenge looks this season.

Barbie: Not to mention an additional fifteen looks for us throughout the season.

Summer: Tonight, however, we’re dressed in Mattel. Not just so Becks could concentrate on this week’s challenge, but because she’s working on her final collection.

Heidi: Why? How does she know she’ll be picked to show a collection during Fashion Week?

Summer: Maybe because she’s the only designer we’ve got?

Heidi: Oh. Right.

Barbie: I chose tonight’s dresses because–

Heidi: They remind everyone that Christmas is right around the corner, and Barbies are a girl’s best friend?

Barbie: –because I felt guilty about not using any of the Birthstone Beauties as models this season. So I thought we could at least wear their dresses.

Summer: I’m in May. Heidi’s in January. And Barbie’s in April. I wonder what this week’s runway model will be in?

Heidi: Manhattan. On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, Mayor Bloomberg gave the designers the entire city of New York to use as their inspiration.

Summer: Becks chose Midtown, most particularly the majestic Art Deco skyscrapers.

Barbie: She’s dressing Esperanza as the Empire State Building?

Heidi: Let’s see!

Please click here for photos.

The Jung Center


For years, whenever I drive through the Museum District, I look at the Jung Center and think I should check it out. So while my brother was here, he, Tom, and I included it on our Day of Museums. It’s a small building, easy to overlook among the larger museums surrounding it, but it has an interesting history. Founded in 1958 by five women who were studying the writings of Swiss psychiatrist Dr. Carl Gustav Jung, it has become a thriving organization that:

  • Offers more than 100 classes, programs, and weekend workshops rooted in analytical psychology, the expressive arts (writing, painting, movement), and the humanities to more than 3,000 students annually.
  • Welcomes over 5,000 visitors annually to its gallery spaces showcasing the work of Texas artists.
  • Collaborates with like-minded Houston organizations in efforts toward global psychological wholeness and compassionate action.
  • Hosts public conferences to explore current-day compelling issues, partnering with other organizations, including the Alley Theatre, Diverse Works, Holocaust Museum Houston, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Menil Collection, Methodist Hospital, Rice University, Rothko Chapel, and the University of Houston Honors College.
  • Currently provides expressive arts programs free of charge for at-risk children, senior citizens, individuals suffering from life-threatening illnesses, and professional caregivers dedicated to meeting some of our city’s most pressing needs.

An impressive organization to have begun with a shared idea among five trailblazing women.

Currently hanging in the center’s art gallery: Testing the Waters by Texas artist Robert Batterton. The drawings in this series feature mystical images blending the ethereal with the everyday. Many of the works are viewable on his site, including this one that I like a lot:

I recommend seeing them in person to fully appreciate them. There’s no charge to browse through the gallery. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center also includes a bookstore with a fascinating range of books–and Carl Jung action figures!



On the corner of Montrose and Berthea.